“Few things are beyond dispute, but this comes close: North Carolina will never become a mecca for top-flight teachers if teacher pay remains just four slots out of last place.

Fifteen years ago, lawmakers could and did seriously (although unproductively) debate bringing the state’s average up to the national average with a mere 7 percent raise. A decade ago, our average was 21st in the nation. Five years ago it was still in the middle of the pack.